Diabetes Prevention and Control:
A Public Health Imperative

Challenges Ahead

Diabetes is an enormous public health problem. However, by continuing to learn more about diabetes and by doing all that is possible to prevent and control this disease, Americans may ultimately succeed in reducing the great burden it creates. Although a greater proportion of public health resources will likely be devoted to primary prevention in the years to come, secondary and tertiary prevention will remain important public health opportunities for reducing the incidence and severity of diabetes complications among people who already have the disease. Moreover, while exercise and physical activity can reduce people’s risk for type 2 diabetes, particularly among those with elevated fasting glucose levels and impaired glucose tolerance, translating this knowledge into effective public health actions will not be easy. To provide tangible evidence of the impact of specific interventions, public health diabetes programs must have a strong evaluation component, and to establish priorities in accordance with scientific evidence, they must be able to respond rapidly to lessons learned.